Removable cover for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

Described is an electronic device which includes a body, an optical opening in the body and a removable cover. The body contains an optical scanner and a slot for a removable integrated circuit (“IC”) card. The optical opening provides an optical path from an external environment to the optical scanner. The removable cover which, when in a closed position coupled to the body, covers the slot and the optical opening. The cover includes a cover opening extending therethrough and, when the cover is in the closed position, the cover opening is aligned with the optical opening to permit light to enter and exit therethrough.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable electronic devices, and inparticular to scanner optical windows of portable barcode scanners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable computing devices have become an integral part of modern life,both as related to business activities and also for recreationalpurposes. In many cases, these devices combine multiple functions, suchas computing, storing addresses, storing data, processing electronicmail and messages, and executing applications. Increasingly, morespecialized functions are also carried out by these portable devices,such as scanning bar codes of products and merchandise. Such morespecialized functions are useful to consumers, as well as to businessusers and manufacturers to keep track of inventories, products, etc.

Portable barcode scanners are designed to satisfy several designrequirements which are often conflicting. These devices have to berugged, since it is likely that during their operational lifetime theywill be inadvertently dropped, crushed and otherwise abused by theoperators. At the same time, the devices have to be sufficiently lightso that they can be easily transported and used, without causing undueinterference in the user's activities. Portable barcode scanners alsoare designed to be inexpensive, to lower the acquisition cost to theuser, and to facilitate replacement of damaged or defective units.

In most respects, the barcode scanners can be manufactured with a shell(e.g., body) of tough polymers which are impact resistant. The shell maybe formed of few parts, which are then assembled to produce a tough,somewhat fluid resistant shell to contain the more delicate internalelectrical components. However, at least one opening is necessary in theportable barcode unit to permit the scanner to “see” the barcode indiciaof a target product, good or device. A window typically covers theopening. The window is generally transparent to permit the visualscanner to work, and often cannot be made of the same material as thebody of the device. It is thus necessary to affix the protective windowover the opening in a manner that is inexpensive, and at the same timeresults in a strong bond giving the window shock proof propertiessimilar to those of the rest of the device's shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic device which includes abody, an optical opening in the body and a removable cover. The bodycontains an optical scanner and a slot for a removable integratedcircuit (“IC”) card. The optical opening provides an optical path froman external environment to the optical scanner. The removable coverwhich, when in a closed position coupled to the body, covers the slotand the optical opening. The cover includes a cover opening extendingtherethrough and, when the cover is in the closed position, the coveropening is aligned with the optical opening to permit light to enter andexit therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device without a removablecover, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a removable cover according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the electronic device of FIG. 1with a removable cover according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be further understood with reference to thefollowing description and the appended drawings, wherein like elementsare referred to with the same reference numerals. Modern developments inthe miniaturization of electronics have brought to the market a widerange of portable hand held devices that can perform many functions.These electronic devices combine multiple functions to provide the userwith great flexibility in how to use them. For example, portableelectronic computers have been given additional functionalities, such asthe ability to scan the barcodes found on products, merchandise, goods,or almost anything that it is useful to track and identify.

These portable electronic devices have found extensive use as consumerelectronics, used for example for shopping assistance, to give shoppersthe ability to identify any product having a barcode, and to access dataregarding that product, such as price, description, availability, etc.These devices are also extensively used as work tools, which can beemployed in the field to perform business functions. For example, storepersonnel can perform inventory management of goods and products forsale, of raw materials, and of any assets which can be marked with abarcode. Barcode scanners may also be used to track parts through amanufacturing process, audit prices, and to keep track of maintenanceand repair operations. When combined with an electronic processor, witha local memory and with wireless access to a remote database, thesedevices may be used to provide a real time picture of the assets andinventory of a business.

One device which combines several of the functions described above isthe MC 1000 terminal manufactured by Symbol Technologies of Holtsville,N.Y. This terminal combines several electrical and electronic componentssuch as an optical scanner capable of reading two and three dimensionalbarcode indicia, a data entry device (e.g., a keyboard), a data displaydevice (e.g., a screen or visual display) and an electronic processor,in a single portable device. The processor may be optimized to analyzethe data read by the scanner, correlate it with existing databases,and/or control communication functions of the device with an externalnetwork, for example through a wireless transmitter.

One advantage of the devices described above is that they are portable,and can perform their functions without wired connections to otherdevices or systems. For example, the portable electronic devices may beable to connect to wireless public networks, to private networks and todedicated networks, such as those operated by a company or business. Toretain the portability of the devices, power is typically provided bybatteries, thus dispensing with the need to use wires connected to astationary power source. To maximize the flexibility of the portableelectronic devices described above, it is necessary to insure that theyare lightweight and damage resistant.

Since the electronic devices are carried by the user, possibly forextensive periods of time, it is important that their weight be reducedto a minimum. Portable devices that are too heavy may interfere with theuser's normal activities, and thus become less effective. At the sametime, portable electronic devices are likely to be dropped, crushed orotherwise unintentionally abused by the operator. It is thus necessaryto manufacture devices which can withstand a great degree of abuse,without being damaged or becoming unusable. In addition to theserequirements, minimizing the cost of the portable electronic devices isanother consideration during their design and manufacture. These designrequirements are often contradictory, and pose difficult challenges tothe engineers and designers.

One area which provides a design challenge is an optical opening formedin the body of an electronic device to provide an optical path forillumination of a barcode indicia from a light source or laser, and alsoto collect the reflected light from the indicia, so it may reach anoptical scanner (e.g., optical sensor). A device window closes theoptical opening of the device's body to prevent contaminants andmoisture from entering in contact with the electronic components, andalso protects those fragile components from being damaged by collisions.Since the device window is a separate component from the rest of thebody, a challenge lies in securing it to the surrounding structure in aninexpensive, light and yet strong manner. Successfully achieving thesedesign parameters enables the portable barcode scanning device to belight, inexpensive, and to be able to withstand damage due to normal uselikely to take place.

Conventionally, the device window of the portable barcode scanningdevice is held in place over the optical opening with an adhesivecompound or with a double sided adhesive tape. However, that method isnot sufficient to ensure that the device window will not detach in caseof dropping of the unit, or other abuse which the portable device maysuffer. Accordingly, a typical solution has been to add a bezel toretain the device window in place, and to affix the bezel to the body ofthe portable device by ultra sonic welding, or other similar bondingmethod. This approach to securing the device window is costly, and alsotime consuming, since the welding process has to be tuned for theproduct. This results in an excessive cost of the finished portablebarcode scanning device.

One way of reducing the cost of a manufactured device is to reduce thenumber of parts which are used during the assembly. Another is tosimplify the assembly methods. According to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, a removable element of a hand held barcode scanner ismodified to be used as an anchoring element of the device windowdescribed above. In one exemplary embodiment, a cover used to close achamber designed to contain a removable electronic integrated circuit(IC) card is extended to form a frame, which is placed over the devicewindow to help hold the device window in place over the optical opening.The removable IC card may be a memory storage device, an IC component tocarry out some function, or other IC device. For example, a SecureDigital (SD) card, a Compact Flash (CF) card, or other format ofremovable memory may be included in the device. Alternatively, an ICcard which performs some function, such as Global Positioning System(GPS) locator, wireless transmitter, etc. may be connected to thebarcode scanner via a slot such as a CF or SD slot. The cover thusprotects the IC card when it is present, and closes the card's slot whennot in use.

An exemplary embodiment of a combined slot cover and device windowfixation frame according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2. Thecombined slot cover and device window fixation frame forms a removablecover 100 of the portable device, which may be constructed of a single,unitary module to ensure the strength and integrity of the removablecover 100. The material used for the removable cover 100 may be the sameas that of the overall shell of the portable electronic device, and maycomprise a polymer which is impact resistant. The removable cover 100includes, for example, a slot cover portion 102 and a fixation frameportion 104. The two portions may be joined together after being shaped,or may be formed from the same piece of structural material.

The slot cover portion 102 may comprise a peripheral element 114 whichdefines the shape and size of the cover. A cover surface 116 may beplaced over the peripheral element 114, or may be formed integrally withthe peripheral element 114 from a shaped piece of structural material. Aretaining element 110 may be included on the lower side of the coversurface 116, facing the body of the portable device. For example, theretaining element 110 may be adapted to retain in place an SD card, orother type of removable IC card connected to the portable device, aswill be described below. The retaining element 110 may comprise, forexample, a foam-like or sponge-like material, which is designed to applya pressure to the removable IC card and to limit the card's movement.

The fixation frame portion 104 comprises a bezel 108, circumscribing acover opening, having a shape and dimensions adapted to overlie theouter periphery of the optical opening of the electronic device (e.g.,portable barcode scanner). A cover window 106 (e.g., a transparentportion) may also be provided (e.g., in the cover opening), whichsubstantially matches the size of the optical opening. The cover window106 is formed of a material which is transparent, for example, to theradiation emitted by the optical system of a portable barcode scanner,and not necessarily to a visible light frequency. The cover window 106may also perform a structural role within the fixation frame portion104, and thus may be formed of a material having sufficiently strongmechanical properties to contribute to the stiffness of the bezel 108.In addition, the cover window 106 may form a protective shield for theoptical opening it covers, preventing damage due to impacts withexternal objects.

The removable cover 100 may comprise a gasket 112 disposed along thecover's periphery. The gasket 112 forms a seal against dirt, liquids,and other contaminants between the removable cover 100 and theelectronic device on which the cover is mounted. The gasket 112 may beformed of any conventional material which is suitable for the specificapplication. For example, the material may be flexible, water resistant,and/or may be useful in dampening vibrations. Gasket 112 may also act asa shock absorber, by dampening impacts on the removable cover 100, andreducing the amount of force transmitted to the electronic device.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable electronic device 200according to the present invention, with the removable cover 100removed. The portable electronic device 200 may be, for example, aportable barcode scanner. The portable electronic device 200 comprises abody 214 formed of a resilient material, which may be similar oridentical to the material forming the removable cover 100. The portableelectronic device 200 comprises an optical scanner 206 (e.g., a scanningengine) contained in the body 214. A device window 202 is provided tolet the laser radiation (or other optical energy) emitted by the opticalscanner 206 to exit the device via the optical opening and be directedto the barcode indicia which is to be scanned. The device window 202also permits the laser light reflected by the indicia to enter the body214 and be detected by sensors of the optical scanner 206. A battery 210may be provided to power the barcode scanner 200. The device window 202is formed of a material which is transparent to the radiation frequencyused by the optical scanner 206.

The portable electronic device 200 is fitted with a slot 208 adapted toreceive a removable IC card. The IC card may be operatively placed inelectrical contact with an electronic processor of the barcode scanner200, with the optical scanner 206, or with other electronic componentsof the barcode scanner 200. For example, the IC card may be a SD card, aflash memory card, a CF card, an XD card, or any other type or removablememory device formed on an IC card. Alternatively, the slot 208 may beused to connect an external device to the barcode scanner 200. Forexample, devices using a CF card connection may be used, such as anexternal transmitter/receiver, a GPS positioning device, a wirelessnetwork adapter, etc. A chamber 204 may be provided within the body 214to house the card or device connected to slot 208. Release actuators 212may be provided to facilitate the removal of the IC card from the slot208, for example by releasing the appropriate locks, and by pushing thecard out of the slot 208. In addition, release actuators 212 may releasethe cover locks 216, which are used to retain the removable cover 100over the chamber 204.

FIG. 3 shows the complete assembly of the portable electronic device200, together with the removable cover 100 in place over the chamber204. As shown, the bezel 108 forms a frame around the periphery of thedevice window 202, and the cover window 106 substantially overlies thedevice window 202. In a different embodiment, the removable cover 100does not have a cover window 106, and only the bezel 108 is placed overdevice window 202. Bezel 108 presses the device window 202 in placeagainst its seat, which is formed on the body 214. The device window 202is thus prevented from separating from the rest of the barcode scanner200, even in case of a shock or other event which might otherwise breakthe device window 202 away from the body 214. The bezel 108 supplementsthe adhesive which normally secures in place the device window 202 byproviding a mechanical force retaining in place the device window 202.

In this exemplary embodiment, the slot cover portion 102 is seated overthe chamber 204, and is adapted to cover and protect from the externalenvironment an SD card which can be inserted in the slot 208. The SDcard in this example is a removable memory card, which can be used, forexample, to store information regarding the products, goods, or otherassets that are scanned by the portable electronic device 200. Theremovable cover 100 may be used whether or not the SD card is actuallypresent in the device. The bezel 108 can be locked to the body 214 andretains the device window 202 in place even if the SD card has beenremoved from slot 208. Any known method of mechanically attaching theremovable cover 100 to the body 214 may be used. For example,protrusions 118 may be locked in place by cover locks 216, and variouslip/groove arrangements and frictional engagement means may be used tofurther secure the cover 100 in place.

The removable cover 100 in this exemplary embodiment forms a cover forthe SD card fitted in chamber 204. However, more generally, the fixationframe portion 104 may be extended from any removable portion of the body214. For example, the bezel 108 may be combined with a covering for abattery compartment, an access to an electronic connection, or aninspection panel used to test or calibrate the electronic components ofthe device, such as the barcode optical scanner 206. Accordingly, thecombination of the fixation frame portion 104 with the SD card cover issimply exemplary, and is not intended to limit the invention to an SDcard cover.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a variety ofadvantages. The bezel of the removable cover applies a mechanical forcewhich retains the device window of the barcode scanner's optical system(e.g., optical scanner) in position. The mechanical pressure is moreeffective at maintaining the device window in place than theconventional adhesives, particularly during impacts such as those causedby dropping the portable barcode scanner, or dropping something on thedevice. Combining the bezel with a cover used to close the opticalopening of the barcode scanner also provides advantages, for example byreducing the number pf parts forming the barcode scanner. In theexemplary embodiment, a cover for a chamber containing an SD memory cardis integrated with the bezel. Combining the functions of two componentsinto one part reduces the cost of the device, and simplifies itsmanufacturing.

The present invention has been described with reference to specificexemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand thatchanges may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size,material and arrangement of parts without departing from the teaching ofthe invention. For example, different configurations of the barcodescanner, of the device window and of the IC card may be used.Accordingly, various modifications and changes may be made to theembodiments without departing from the broadest scope of the invention.The specifications and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. An electronic device, comprising: a body containing an opticalscanner and a slot for a removable integrated circuit (“IC”) card; anoptical opening in the body providing an optical path from an externalenvironment to the optical scanner; and a removable cover which, when ina closed position coupled to the body, covers the slot and the opticalopening, the cover including a cover opening extending therethroughwherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the cover opening isaligned with the optical opening to permit light to enter and exittherethrough.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a device window which, when the cover is in the closedposition, is held in place over the optical opening by the cover.
 3. Theelectronic device according to claim 2, wherein the cover furthercomprises a gasket surrounding the cover opening for contacting thedevice window.
 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, whereinthe gasket comprises at least one of a shock absorbing material and afluid resistant material.
 5. The electronic device according to claim 2,wherein the cover includes a bezel which, when the cover is in theclosed position, pushes the device window against a corresponding seatformed in the body.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 5,wherein the bezel substantially overlies a periphery of the devicewindow.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the coverincludes a cover window overlying the optical opening, the cover windowbeing substantially transparent.
 8. The electronic device according toclaim 1, wherein the removable IC card includes a memory card.
 9. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanner is abarcode reader scanner.
 10. The electronic device according to claim 1,further comprising: a releasable lock attaching the cover to the body.11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the coverfurther includes an IC retaining portion which, when the cover is in theclosed position, limits movement of the IC card.
 12. A removable coverfor an electronic device which includes a body and an optical opening inthe body, the body containing an optical scanner and a slot for aremovable integrated circuit (“IC”) card, the optical opening providingan optical path from an external environment to the optical scanner, thecover comprising: a fixation frame portion having a cover opening toallow light to enter and exit therethrough; and a cover portion unitarywith the fixation frame portion, wherein, when the cover is coupled tothe device, the fixation frame portion mechanically retains in place adevice window of the device over the optical opening and the coverportion closes the slot.
 13. The removable cover according to claim 12,further comprising: an attachment element releasably coupling the coverto the device.
 14. The removable cover according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a gasket surrounding the cover opening for contacting thedevice window.
 15. The removable cover according to claim 14, whereinthe gasket includes at least one of a shock absorbing material and afluid resistant material.
 16. The removable cover according to claim 12,further comprising: a bezel pushing the device window against acorresponding seat formed in the body.
 17. The removable cover accordingto claim 16, wherein the bezel substantially overlies a periphery of thedevice window.
 18. The removable cover according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a cover window overlying the optical opening, the coverwindow being substantially transparent.
 19. The removable coveraccording to claim 12, wherein the IC card includes a memory card. 20.The removable cover according to claim 12, wherein the optical scanneris a barcode reader scanner.
 21. The removable cover according to claim12, further comprising: an IC retaining portion which, when the cover isin the closed position, limits movement of the IC card.
 22. A portableoptical barcode scanner, comprising: a resilient body; a barcodescanning engine disposed within the resilient body; a window of theresilient body providing an optical path to the barcode scanning engine;an IC card slot of the resilient body, to operatively connect an IC cardto the barcode scanning engine; a structural cover releasably attachableto the resilient body; a fixation frame portion of the structural covermechanically retains the window; and a slot cover portion of thestructural cover encloses card slot.